USC Basketball to Start 07-08 in ESPN Tourney

CELEBRATION, Fla. - ESPN announced today the schedule of matchups for the 2007 Old Spice Classic, to be held on Thanksgiving weekend at the Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla.

"ESPN made every effort to establish a top-quality early-season tournament equal to the Maui's, the Alaska's and the pre-season NIT's with the Ole Spice Tournament," said South Carolina Head Coach Dave Odom. "The field that we will be facing is truly impressive and will be a difficult early season challenge for our team, but it's a challenge that will excite everyone in the Gamecock basketball program."

The event will include 12 games in three days, and will be broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPNU. This year, sponsors include Old Spice, ESPNU and Disney's Wide World of Sports, with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) serving as the event's sponsoring conference.

The 2007 Old Spice Classic field includes eight teams: South Carolina, the University of Central Florida, George Mason, Kansas State, N.C. State, Penn State, Rider and Villanova. Each team will compete in one game per day, advancing through a bracket-tournament format.

In the first round of action, beginning Thursday, Nov. 22, Penn State will take on South Carolina; Rider will face North Carolina State; Central Florida will meet Villanova; and Kansas State and George Mason will square off. All games on the first day of action will be televised on ESPN2.

"We feel that these exciting matchups will add to a first-class experience for college basketball fans attending the event and the many viewers watching on the ESPN networks," said Pete Derzis, senior vice president and general manager of ESPN Regional Television.

The two teams that remain undefeated throughout the tournament will face off in a championship match at 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 25, on ESPN2. Complete matchups are listed below.

The inaugural Old Spice Classic was played in 2006 with Arkansas defeating West Virginia in the championship game at Disney's Milk House. Marist placed third in the event.

Additional information can be found on the Old Spice Classic Web site at www.oldspiceclassic.com. For more information on Disney's Wide World of Sports, visit www.disneysports.com.

ESPN2 and ESPNU Tournament Schedule

Thurs., Nov. 22

12 p.m. ESPN2 South Carolina vs. Penn State

2 p.m. ESPN2 NC State vs. Rider

7:00 p.m. ESPN2 Villanova vs. UCF

9:00 p.m. ESPN2 George Mason vs. Kansas State